South Western Railway official, who hid her coronavirus positive son in guest house, suspended

Bengaluru: South Western Railway official has been suspended for “hiding” her son at a railway guest house in Karnataka’s Bengaluru, officials said on Friday. Her son had returned from Germany via Spain and later tested positive for coronavirus.

South Western Railway chief PRO E Vijaya told a news agency that the Assistant Personnel Officer (Traffic) had not apprised the authorities of her son’s return from Germany. Furthermore, she had jeopardised the lives of others by making him stay in a railway rest house near the Bengaluru railway station.

She has been suspended, added Vijaya.

On March 13, the 25-year-old man had arrived at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru from Germany via Spain. He was then instructed to stay in home quarantine. As per a railway spokesperson, he was tested positive for COVID-19 on March 18.

“She virtually hid her son to protect her family but endangered all of us,” a South Western Railway official said.

Meanwhile, an official said: “South Western Railway zone general manager AK Singh has suspended the employee for lodging her 25-year-old COVID-19-affected son at the rest house near the main station in the city centre on March 14.”

“Disciplinary proceeding against the employee is contemplated. She will not leave the city during her suspension period without the permission of a competent authority,” the official added while citing Singh’s order.

Meanwhile, “the Maples rest house has been sealed and the city civic body fumigated the entire building on Thursday though the victim stayed alone in a room on the second floor”.